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The 2021-2022 Football Thread

Just catching up on the world cup groups.

I don’t fancy Qatar to make the next round from a group of Qatar, Netherlands, Senegal and Ecuador. Tricky group with Spain, Germany, Japan.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
FIFA just released a free App, FIFA+...while I am no fan of FIFA, it worth noting that this app allows you to watch full replays of every world cup final from 1966 onwards. Only on iOS and M1 Macs at the moment. It's pretty buggy but it does work.
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The reviews are less than stellar... And it's over 4 years old... :p
 
pachyderm said:
Isn't the host automatically in?
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The host qualifies automatically but these are the groups for the group stages of the tournament. They have to play the matches like any other team to see if they make the knock-out stages. It’s usually good for the crowds if the host nation does well, and there have been times when the host nation performed way above and beyond, such as when South Korea made it to the semi-finals in 2002.
 
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Host nations usually seem to make it to the knockout rounds. South Africa didn't, IIRC, and Qatar won't do it this year.
 
Another high intensity match and this time Liverpool come out on top against Man City. Though in truth Liverpool were the better team on this occasion. Probably should have scored at least one more. After that wonderful first half I knew Man City would come tearing back and would score a couple. They’re just too good to get blown away for 90 minutes.

Steffen will get all the blame, unfairly, and it breaks my heart to see the former Columbus crew hero’s career stalling when he could be tearing it up with a smaller club. Instead he’s just spare parts at City and gets no playing time. Then is occasionally asked to step into an extremely demanding system and perform.

Another American player who made the wrong European move and suffered for it.
 
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Meanwhile, nobody wants to stake their claim on 4th in the league, with Arsenal and Spurs both losing and United only collecting all three points against cellar-dwellers Norwich City thanks to another Ronaldo hat trick.

If United can ship two goals against Norwich at home, imagine the fireworks on order for Anfield this week. Yikes.
 
Silencio said:
Meanwhile, nobody wants to stake their claim on 4th in the league, with Arsenal and Spurs both losing and United only collecting all three points against cellar-dwellers Norwich City thanks to another Ronaldo hat trick.

If United can ship two goals against Norwich at home, imagine the fireworks on order for Anfield this week. Yikes.
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I wish Utd had lost as well. Especially if we pick up the win tomorrow!
I thought Spurs had it in the bag this year. But it does seem there are a few twists and turns to come yet.
 
Silencio said:
If United can ship two goals against Norwich at home, imagine the fireworks on order for Anfield this week. Yikes.
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It's a derby, so I expect Man Utd to rouse themselves to some degree. Same goes for Everton. Though Liverpool are in good form and should feel confident going into both matches. Game management is crucial at this stage of the season so I expect Klopp to try and rotate a little, even though there is zero margin for error in the league.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
It's a derby, so I expect Man Utd to rouse themselves to some degree. Same goes for Everton. Though Liverpool are in good form and should feel confident going into both matches. Game management is crucial at this stage of the season so I expect Klopp to try and rotate a little, even though there is zero margin for error in the league.
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Probably helps rotate when you have a subs bench full of internationals to call on though.
 
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psXZ3WU.jpg


Phew... up to 5th...
 
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Liverpool face two very tough opponents in their remaining cup competitions in Chelsea and Villareal. Chelsea fought Liverpool to a stalemate in the league cup final and only lost the epic penalty shootout by a hair. Villareal are knockout specialists who have already given Atalanta, Juventus, and Bayern Munch their marching orders in this European campaign. They will be really tough opponents.

Man City should actually have a relatively easy time against Real Madrid IMO. Real flatter to deceive and rely on moments of brilliance but are merely the sum of their expensive parts, as they always have been. And this is no vintage Real side. They only got past Chelsea because the latter collapsed in the first leg. City are a far more cohesive unit who can also equal the talent Real have in their squad. I could actually see this being a Man City rout.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
Liverpool face two very tough opponents in their remaining cup competitions in Chelsea and Villareal. Chelsea fought Liverpool to a stalemate in the league cup final and only lost the epic penalty shootout by a hair. Villareal are knockout specialists who have already given Atalanta, Juventus, and Bayern Munch their marching orders in this European campaign. They will be really tough opponents.

Man City should actually have a relatively easy time against Real Madrid IMO. Real flatter to deceive and rely on moments of brilliance but are merely the sum of their expensive parts, as they always have been. And this is no vintage Real side. They only got past Chelsea because the latter collapsed in the first leg. City are a far more cohesive unit who can also equal the talent Real have in their squad. I could actually see this being a Man City rout.
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UP THE REDS!

cuck fan mity!
 
Cristiano Ronaldo will miss out on the Liverpool match today due to the tragic passing of his newborn son. Really puts a derby into perspective.

I also read that the Liverpool supporters are organizing a moment of applause at the 7th minute for him. A wonderful gesture if it comes off.

Otherwise, it'll be a routine 6-0 Liverpool victory today.
 
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Silencio said:
Cristiano Ronaldo will miss out on the Liverpool match today due to the tragic passing of his newborn son. Really puts a derby into perspective.

I also read that the Liverpool supporters are organizing a moment of applause at the 7th minute for him. A wonderful gesture if it comes off.

Otherwise, it'll be a routine 6-0 Liverpool victory today.
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Very sad news. Puts footballing matters into perspective.
 
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Silencio said:
Cristiano Ronaldo will miss out on the Liverpool match today due to the tragic passing of his newborn son. Really puts a derby into perspective.

I also read that the Liverpool supporters are organizing a moment of applause at the 7th minute for him. A wonderful gesture if it comes off.

Otherwise, it'll be a routine 6-0 Liverpool victory today.
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Very sad news. It's a shame Ronaldo even has to announce it publicly, but we all know that if he didn't it would get leaked and so forth. Such is the state of things today. Pleased to see the fans in attendance make a respectful gesture during the match, this was not the time for tribalism and while we see the game as an escape from reality it sometimes intrudes and we need to acknowledge that appropriately.

I felt confident going in to the match but derbies are always big banana peels. Still 'Pool's hot form continues and Klopp has them razor-focused. They did not slip today but there is still zero tolerance for failure for the rest of the season in the league.
 
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The 4-0 scoreline certainly flattered United. I am running out of whatever the opposite of "superlatives" is to describe how bad they are, as individuals and as a whole.
 
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